Air Moldova

Was scheduled to fly IST-KIV on June 12. Learned 5 days before the flight that the service on that day was cancelled. Was offered a seat on the next day's flight transfer from/to airport and free hotel accommodation. A big thanks to the Air Moldova representative in Istanbul Sinan who was super helpful in arranging the details of my overnight stay in Istanbul. He accompanied me to the hotel met me at the airport the next day and was extremely friendly throughout my dealings with Air Moldova. Onboard the service consisted of a cold meal and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. FAs could learn to smile more. Plane a new spotless Embraer 190 with comfortable pitch and leather seats.

VIE to KIV. The experience was quite odd like going back into the Soviet days as they were using a Yak-40 on the flight. Staff friendly and relatively professional although it felt almost like a charter flight. The meal was quite good and flight was on time. The cabin layout was really bizarre with something looking like a couch near the front of the plane and little leg room in my seat. The fact that they didn't de-ice the plane (it was snowing hard at takeoff) freaked me out a bit too. Not sure if they're still using the Yak-40 but if you happen to get on this one it's certainly a unique experience if you're up for it.

OTP-KIV-IST return. OTP-KIV canceled due to fog instead put on the TK service to IST. For the IST-KIV on well maintained Embraer 190 with friendly and professional FAs. KIV-OTP delayed 1.5 hours but they kept passengers informed. Boarding was a bit chaotic as they could not figure which plane should depart first. They used a fairly old but clean A320-200 and staff were nice. For the price paid attentive service and helpful staff.

Business class Moscow to Chisinau. I was the only business class passenger. Good condition A320. Flight was on time FA was smart pretty smiling and hospitable. Cabin service was fine - a full breakfast served and service was attentive. I was pleasantly surprised.

OTP-KIV return on new Embraer 190. The flight was quick and the little snack was more than ok. Flight Attendants were only interested in some passengers and didn't really care at all for the others. I felt sort of unsafe as no particular attention was brought to passengers calling on cellphone or using electronic devices during take off and landing! My return trip was with the small Embraer 120 for KIV-OTP flight. This very old little plane of 30 seats only was comfy and I felt safe. The single cabin crew who was working was smiling kind and hospitality was great. We left and arrived on time.

OTP-KIV Embraer 120 Economy Class. The airplane is old and uncomfortable. Whilst waiting in Bucharest had to approach the information desk and ask for explanations with regard to the late opening of the check-in counter. In fact with 20 minutes before scheduled departure the check-in hadn't opened. No announcements or apologies from the airline staff. Tarom-operated flights on this route are a better alternative. The only good thing about this flight was the responsive attitude of the FA on board. Otherwise Air Moldova needs to get its grip together if they want to retain customers.

Flew Air Moldova on the Chisinau - London Stansted route. Check-in efficient and quick boarding. The Airbus 320 was in good condition and crew very welcoming. Once on-board offered a cold meal and one round of drinks. Air Moldova makes a technical stop in Paris to drop-off and pick-up passengers on this route. Given that total flight time to London including the stop in Paris is over 5 hours I think it does make sense to serve a hot meal and at least another round of drinks. I guess this was the only disappointment with Air Moldova.

Route FRA-KIV-FRA. First flight was an unmarked MD operated by SkyWings. Service and food were average at best. Return flight turned into quite a nightmare mostly for passengers who had a connection flight from Frankfurt to another city. The flight was scheduled at 0805 first postponed to 0900 then to 1000 and finally to 1230. In the end our flight took off at 1340 nearly eight hours late. There was hardly a word of excuse except a roll and a bottle of water handed to each passenger in the departure area.

FRA-KIV-FRA. This route is now run by an old MD-82 leased from Sky Wings (Greece). This plane has no markings and my seat had no tray table. Parking is at the furthest stand from the terminal so you will have a very long ride to/from Terminal 2. FRA-KIV meal was OK as was the service. KIV-FRA breakfast was great. No in-flight entertainment either way.

I'd give it a solid average rating. It seems you can never get a uniform service though; sometimes you can buy a bottle of wine other times you are told wine is not sold or available or wine is served with the meal and sometimes there is none. The flight attendants are perfunctorily friendly something expected from a former communist mentality (customer service-wise). Air Moldova offers the cheapest airfare I have found and the only direct flight from Frankfurt.